Keyless lock



Feb. 22,1927. T 1,618,841

J. MOMENAMIN KEYLESS LOCK I I Filed May 18, 1926 2 sheets-sheet 1 Fl 6': 1 II (72 Z WITNESSES: INVENTORQ Patented Feb. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,618,841 PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH McMENAIvIIN, or PHILADELPEIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

KEYLESS LOCK.

Application filed May 18,

My invention relates to keyless locks of the combination type and its object is to provide a. lock of simple construction which may be set in a wide variety of diifering combinations which may be readily worked by a person knowing the combination but which, if operated at all by one who does not know the combination, can only be operated at an expenditure of much time and'efl'ort.

This object, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a front elevation of a. lock embodying my invention,

Figure 2 a rear elevation of the same,

Figure 3 a front elevation of a shackle which is part of the invention,

Figure 4 a side elevation of the same,

Figure 5 a transverse vertical section of the lock showing the parts in one looking position, s

Figure 6 a like view showing the parts in unlocking position,

Figure 7 a section on line 7-7 of Figure 5, and

Figure 8 a section on line 88 of Figure 5.

I have illustrated the invention as applied to a padlock though it may be used in place of other types of lock such as locks for automobile wheels.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a metallic casing, shown as an integral block, preferably of substantially rectangular form. The block is bored longitudinally to receive the legs of aU-shaped staple 2, hereinafter called the shackle, and has a series of transverse bores intersecting but somewhat offset from the longitudinal bores and adapted to receive slidable locking bolts 3, 4 and 5. The legs of the shackle have reduced parts provided with a series of spaced transverse notches 6, preferably curvilinear, the notches in each leg being in alignment with those in the other leg. Each bolt has a pair of reduced parts'or annular grooves 7 corresponding in width to the diameter of the shackle bolt and so spaced that they may be brought into registry with the bores which receive the legs of the shackle. The grooves 7 in each bolt are spaced at distances from the ends of the bolt which differ from the spacing in the other bolts. Each of the bolts is also provided, midway of its length, with a series of annular 1926. Serial No. 110,033.

notches 8 disposed intermediate the grooves 7 and shown as five in number. The bolts are yieldingly held in selective positions transversely of the block by spring-pressed dogs adapted toengage the notches. In the form shown, these dogs consist of balls 9 and 10 loosely confined in one side of the block and pressed in opposite directions by a spring 11 with the smaller ball projecting into the transverse bores in which the bolts slide and adapted to successively engage notches 8 when a bolt is slidably moved. The balls are inserted in inwardly tapering holes extending from one face of the block into the transverse bores and the outer end of the hole is then caulked" closed. Except as to the different spacing of grooves 7 the bolts correspond and are reversible and interchangeable.

If the grooves 7 of each bolt are brought into registry with the shackle bores the' shackle may be inserted or withdrawn. Unless the grooves are in such registry the shackle cannot be inserted or withdrawn. The shoulders, on each of the bolts at 0-pposite sides of each groove 7, are adapted to engage the shackle when the bolt is slid in either direction-to its limiting position, thus precluding withdrawal of the bolts while the shackle is in place in the casing.

Preferably when the parts are in locking position theends of the bolts project equally from both ends of the block as shown in Figure 5. Preferably, also, one of the bolts, the central bolt, for instance, is in unlocking position so that sliding that bolt in either direction will move it from unlocking to locking position. 7

Assuming thebo-lt to be .in the unlocl'ring position and the shackle-in place, as shown in Figure 6, locking is effected by sliding the bolts into a position in which their ends project equally from both ends of the block as shown in Figure 5. Balls 9, will then be in engagement with the central notch of the series of notches 8. To bring the bolts into unlocking position, bolt 3 must be moved two notches to the left and bolt 5 one notch 'to the left. No movement of'bolt 4 is required but if moved in either direction it will serve as a lock until brought back to its original position. Any movement of bolt 3 or bolt 5 to the right will complicate matters. For in stance, if bolt 3 is moved one notch to the right, it must then be moved three notches to the left in order to bring it into unlocking position. If moved two notches to the right, it must be moved four notches to the left in order to bring it into unlocking position. The required combination of movements may be changed either by reversing the position of one or more bolts or interchanging the bolts. If bolts 3 is reversed in position, it is necessary to move it two notches to the right, instead of to the left, to get it into unlocking position. If it is substituted for bolt 5, the two notch movement is required in the number 5 osition and is to the right or the left, depending upon which end of the bolt is right or left. The lock may therefore be readily set for a considerable number of differing combinations which may be multiplied indefinitely by increasing the number of bolts or the number of setting notches in the bolts or increasing the number of bolts and notches.

Bolt 4 may be transferred to the position of bolt 3 or bolt 5. With bolt 4: in unlocking position, it requires but one sliding movement of bolts 3 and 4 for a person knowing the combination to open the lock.

While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be under stood that the various parts may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 2-- 1. A keyless lock including a casing; a shackle, having spaced notches, slidably mounted in the casing; bolts, having looking and releasing portions, slidably mounted in the casing transversely of the shackle; the releasing portions of the several bolts being at difierent distances from their ends; and means to yieldingly hold the bolts in selected positions.

2. A keyless lock including a casing; a shackle, having spaced notches, slidably mounted in the casing; bolts, having locking and releasing portions, slidably mounted in the casing transversely of the shackle; the releasing portions of the several bolts being at different distances from their ends; and spring-pressed balls engaging grooves formed near the center of the bolts for hold ing them in selected positions.

8. A keyless lock including a casing; a shackle, having reduced portions and spaced notches therein, slidably mounted in the casing; bolts, having locking and releasing portions, slidably mounted in the casing transversely of the shackle; the locking portions being adapted to register with the notches in the shackle and the releasingportions of the se eral bolts being at difierent distances from their ends; and means to yieldingly hold the bolts in selected positrons.

4. A keyless lock including a casing; a shackle, having spaced notches, slidably mounted in the casing; bolts, having locking and releasing portions, slidably mounted in the casing transversely of the shackle; the releasing portions of the several bolts being at different distances from their ends; means for preventing the removal of the bolts while the shackle is in place; and means to yieldingly hold the bolts in selected positions.

5. A keyless lock including a casing having longitudinal and transverse bores; the transverse bores offset from but intersecting the longitudinal bores; a shackle, having spaced notches, slidably mounted in the 1ongitudinal bores; bolts, having locking and releasing portions, slidably mounted in the transverse bores; the releasing portions of the several bolts being at different distances from their ends; and means for yieldingly holding the bolts'in selected positions.

6. A keyless lock including a casing having longitudinal and transverse bores; the transverse bores offsetfrom but intersecting the longitudinal bores; a shackle having reduced portions and spaced notches therein slidably mounted in the longitudinal bores; bolts, having locking and releasing portions, slidably n'lounted in the transverse bores; the locking portions being adapted to register with the notches in the shackle and the releasing port-ions of the several bolts being at different distances from their ends; and means for yieldingly holding the bolts in selected positions. 7

7. A keyless lock including a casing having longitudinal and transverse bores; the transverse bores offset from but intersecting the longitudinal bores; a shackle, having spaced notches, slidably mounted in the longitudinal bores; bolts, having locking and releasing portions, slidably mounted in the transverse bores; the releasing portions of the several bolts being at different distances from their ends; means for preventing the removal of the bolts while the shackle is in place; and means for yieldingly holding the bolts in selected positions.

8. A keyless lock including a casing having longitudinal and transverse bores; the transverse bores offset from but intersecting the longitudinal bores; a shackle, having spaced notches, slidably mounted in the longitudinal bores; bolts, having locking and releasing portions, slidably mounted in the transverse bores; the releasing portions of the several bolts being at diiferent distances from their ends; and spring-pressed balls engaging grooves formed near the centers of the bolts for holding them in selected positions.

9. A keyless lock including a casing having longitudinal bores and a series of transverse bores offsetfrom but intersecting the longitudinal bores; a shackle slidable in the longitudinal bores and having reducedpor- Lions and spaced notches in its legs; a series of bolts slidable in the transverse bores and having locking portions adapted to register With the notches in the shackle and secure same against removal; the said bolts having releasing portions adapted to align With the "shackle legs and permit same to be removed from the casing and the releasing parts on the several bolts being at difl'erent'distances frond the ends of the bolts; the ends of the bolts preventing their removal When the shackle is in place but allowing their removal when the shackle is removed; and spring-pressed balls engaging grooves formed near the center of the bolts for holding them in selected positions relatively'to the shackle.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 

